Socket for incandescent lamps



- WITNESEEE- (NoModeL) G H ALTON SOCKET FOR 'INOANDESGBNT LAMPS. No. 450,605. Patented Apr. 21, 1891.

l l ullll @WWY UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

GEORGE H. ALTON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

SOCKET FOR INCANDESCEN T LAMPS.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,605, datedApril 21, 1891.

Application filed October 22, 1890. Serial No. 368,919. (No modelJ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. ALTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvem'ent in Sockets for Incandescent Lamps, of which the following is a specifica tion.

My present invention has to do with an incandescent-lamp socket; and it comprises cer-' tain features of construction outlined hereinafter in the claims, the purpose of which is to provide a form of socket having few parts, which can be easily and cheaply manufactured, and which at the same time will preserve a good electrical connection between the terminals in the socket and lampcollar, respectively.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my improvements, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the socket, and showing also the lamp-collar. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the lamp-collar fastened to the socket in its proper operative position. Figs. 3 and 4 are details of the socket-terminals, and Fig. 5 illustrates in perspective thelampcollar.

The socket comprises a form or holder of any desired construction, as at O in Fig. 1, where the wires leading to the lamp are also shown made up in a-fiexible cord Q, as is cus tomary. The holder has an insulating basepiece B, made of fiber, glass, or other insulating material. To this base a U-shaped terminal A, Fig. 4c, is attached, which has two side arms a a, separated by a considerable space, and the screw portion S at the bottom of the U, which is adapted to enter a screwthreaded bushing K in the lamp-collar. One

of the circuit-wires will be connected to this U-shaped terminal by a screw or clamp C. On the bottom of the insulating-base is riveted a metal re-enforcing plate E,Fig; 3, having two clips or flanges e e bent over, as shown. The second socket-terminal consists of a plate-spring F, of phosphor-bronze or other suitable metal, which at its inner end is fastened to the re-enforcin g plate by a screw or rivet f, which also passes through a nut G, clamping this end of the sprin The terminal F extends down between the arms a a, so as to preserve a maximum insulation distance between the two branches of the cir' cuit, and its free end, which is bent back, as shown, makes a rubbing contact with'the contact-ring B, Fig. 5, upon the lampcollar, which puts the spring under slight tension when the lamp is in place. The return-wire is connected to the ear 6 by the screw C ,and when the lamp is in position (shown in Fig. 2) the circuit through the burner is complete, as will be readily understood.

With a lamp-socket of this construction the lamp will not readily Work loose by reason of any vibrations, and therefore a good contact will be maintained. There is also secured a wide separation of the metal parts of the socket relatively to the space occupied, so that short-circuiting within the socket is not apt to occur. The terminals being all of a simple form can be readily stamped out of metal and the diiferent parts easily assembled, so that the socket can be manufactured at comparatively low cost.

hat I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Alamp-socket comprising an insulatingbase, the Ushaped terminal attached thereto and adapted to be screwed into the collar of the lamp, thereby making connection with one lamp-terminal, and the spring-terminal permanently fixed to the base at one end and having a free end which is pressed into engagement with the second lamp-terminal upon screwing'the lamp to the socket.

2. A lamp-socket having an insulating-base, the U -shaped terminal having side arms fastened to the base, and the spring-terminal permanently fixed at one end to the base and extending between the arms of the U-shaped terminal atsubstantiallya maximum insulation distance therefrom, said terminals being adapted to engage corresponding terminals upon the lamp when the latter is screwed to the socket, as described.

3. Alamp-sockethavinganinsulating-base, the U-shaped terminal attached thereto and provided with a central screw portion S, the re-enforcing plate E, attached to the base, and the spring-terminal fixed to the plate and extending between the arms of the first-named terminal.

4. The combination of the 1a1np-001larhaving the screw-threaded bushing and contactring, with the socket comprising the U- shaped terminal and screw adapted to enter 5 said socket, and the plate-spring terminal permanently fixed to the base and having afree In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of Oet0ber,1890.

GEORGE II. ALTON. Witnesses:

JOHN N. GIBBQNEY,

end engaging the contact-ring, as described. WILLIAM O. WAKEFIELD. 

